Dog for fixing a window glass onto a window lifter

ABSTRACT

A carrier for connecting a window pane to a window lifter including retaining arms which are located to each side of the lower edge of the window pane. At least one of these retaining arms has a recess in which a window bolt can engage to connect the window pane to the carrier. At least the upper part of at least one retaining arm is resilient. One retaining arm has a retaining area formed as a horizontal oblong guide and the other retaining arm has a fixing area which is resiliently attached to the carrier for horizontally urging the window bolt as the bolt moves with respect to the carrier within the horizontal guide.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a carrier for connecting a window pane to awindow lifter comprising retaining arms which are located to both sidesof the lower edge of the window pane. At least one of these retainingarms has a recess in which a window bolt can engage in order to lock thewindow pane. At least the upper part of at least one retaining arm isformed spring elastic and has a guide-in area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

From DE 4423 440 A1 a carrier is known for fixing a window pane of amotor vehicle onto the guide rails of a window lifter. This carriercomprises retaining arms which are mounted on each side of the lowerarea of the window pane. At least one of these retaining arms has arecess in which a connecting element can engage in order to lock thewindow pane. At least an upper part of at least one retaining arm isformed spring elastic and supports a guide bevel directed towards thelower edge of the pane.

The connecting element for locking the window pane is already connectedto the window pane prior to assembly. As connecting elements are usedbolts mounted in full-length holes of the pane, elements stuck onto thepanes or elements shaped out of the pane.

For assembly the connecting element is inserted into the gap between theretaining arms and engages there in the recesses. The position of thewindow pane is thereby fixed in this way.

In order to be able to compensate for tolerances in the parallelposition of the guide rails or to undertake adjustments, in oneembodiment the recesses are formed as horizontally aligned oblong holeguides. Thus the one connecting element can be fixedly mounted in thecarrier and the other connecting element can be mounted in this oblonghole guide (loose bearing/fixed bearing system).

Despite these measures the device is not in a position to compensate forthe tolerances which can occur between the window pane and the sealduring movement of the window pane. The reason for this is that thewindow pane is fixed by the fixed bearing in its position relative tothe vehicle door, that is to the guide of the pane in the vehicle door.In the event of unfavourable tolerance positions there can result highfriction forces in the guides or in the seals of the window pane in thevehicle door.

The carrier device further has the drawback that during manufacture ofvehicle doors a special carrier of the correct type has to be providedfor each angular position between the travel direction of the carrierand the lower edge of the window pane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to develop a carrier which can beused for different angular positions between the travel direction of thecarrier and the lower edge of the window pane and/or is in a position tocompensate the position of the window pane in the travel direction(x-direction).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, this is achievedthrough a retaining area designed as a horizontal oblong hole guidewhich is associated with one of the retaining arms, while a fasteningarea mounted horizontally resilient is associated with the otherretaining arm.

This solution has the advantage that it is possible to compensate thetolerances both with regard to the parallel alignment of the two guiderails and the parallel alignment between the pane guide on the B-pillarand the guide rail associated with same.

Since one carrier combines both the function of guiding in the verticaldirection (z-direction) and the function of resilience in the horizontaldirection (x-direction) the structural design of fixing the pane is thesame on both carriers of twin-cable window lifters. Thus the carrierscan be constructed structurally identical and it is possible to usethese also for a single-strand window lifter.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a contour isformed in the region of the lower edge of the window pane whosecross-section is formed as a segment of a circle wherein the height ofthe circle segment is fixed in dependence on the angular positions to becovered between the carrier and the window pane edge and the contourrests on a support surface arranged on the carrier and wherein the widthof the support surface is measured so that the support point withmaximum tolerance deviations in the horizontal direction still rests onthis support surface.

This embodiment is suitable for different angular positions of thecarrier relative to the window pane. At the same time there is also thepossibility of compensating for movement at right angles to the traveldirection of the window pane or to the direction of force introducedinto the window pane. Thus it is possible to make a universal carrierwhich is suitable for a variety of uses.

A further advantage is that no component of movement of the operatingforce appears parallel to the lower edge of the window pane (in theplane of the window).

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the present invention will now be explainedin further detail with reference to the specification, claims, anddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the carrier according to theinvention for compensating tolerances in the x-direction with a windowpane and window bolt.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the carrier of FIG. 1 with a separateview of the retaining arms.

FIG. 3a shows the position of the window pane relative to the seal of avehicle door prior to installation of the carrier.

FIG. 3b shows the window pane connected to the carrier duringinstallation of the carrier.

FIG. 3c shows that when the window pane is moved upwards it is pressedby the inclined sealing section into the sealing section.

FIG. 4a shows the position of the window pane relative to the seal ofthe vehicle door prior to installation of the carrier.

FIG. 4b shows the window pane connected to the carrier duringinstallation of the carrier, wherein the window pane contacts the sealwhen moving upwards.

FIG. 4c shows the window pane in its upward position during installationof the carrier.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the carrier for compensatingdifferent positions of the window pane.

FIG. 6 shows a partial perspective view of the carrier according to FIG.5 without the window pane and front retaining element.

FIG. 7 shows a front view of the carrier shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 shows a view of a connecting part with cogs in the assembledstate with the window pane.

FIG. 9 shows a view of the connecting part prior to assembly.

FIG. 10 shows a diagrammatic view of the position of the carrierrelative to the guide rails.

FIG. 11 shows the diagrammatic view of FIG. 10 having an alternateposition of the carrier relative to the guide rails.

FIG. 12 shows the diagrammatic view of FIG. 10 where the position of theguide rails differ from each other.

FIG. 13 shows a view of a carrier with tolerance compensation in thex-direction and to compensate different positions relative to the windowpane.

FIG. 14 shows an incomplete view of the carrier according to FIG. 13without window pane and front retaining element.

FIG. 15 shows a front view of the carrier according to FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment according to FIG. 1 shows a carrier 2 which is providedwith two retaining arms 21, 22. The window pane 1 is held by its loweredge 11 in the gap 25 between the retaining arms 21, 22. A window bolt 3is inserted as a connecting element into the window pane 1 and is heldby the retaining arms 21, 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the two retaining arms have in their upper part aguide bevel 23, 24 to guide the window bolt 3 into its installationposition. Both the retaining arm 21 and the retaining arm 22 are formedsymmetrical. However the two retaining arms 21, 22 differ significantlyfrom each other with regard to their construction.

A component part of the retaining arm 21 is a fixing area with a boltsocket 26 which holds the window bolt 3. The bolt socket 26 is resilientin the horizontal x-direction (i.e. in the travel direction). This isachieved by the bolt socket 26 having a V-shaped guide-in area wherein aspring elastic web 28.1 is formed between the v-shaped guide in area andthe base body 29 of the carrier 2. The shape of the bolt socket 26 isnot restricted to the v-shape. For example, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 15,a bolt socket 26′ in the form of an “M” is also possible, wherein theguide-in area is thereby connected on each side through arms 28.2 to thebase body 29′, wherein both the guide-in area and/or the side arms 28.2are resilient.

The retaining arm 22 has a retaining area in the form of an oblong hole27 extending in the x-direction (see FIG. 2) and holding the window boltin its installation position.

On inserting the window pane 1, the window bolt 3 passes through theguide-in bevels 23, 24 into the installation position. The oblong hole27 of the retaining arm 22 allows displacement in the x-direction butcan fully take up the force component acting in the verticalz-direction. The retaining arm 22 is therefore mounted directly on theside facing the guide rail so that the withdrawal forces can be safelytransferred.

The bolt socket 26 of the retaining arm 21 is used to secure theposition in the x-direction. Although the position of the window bolt 3is thereby fixed, the spring action in the x-direction can reliablycompensate the installation tolerances.

FIGS. 3a, 3 b, and 3 c show using the present carrier for compensatingtolerances during installation of the window pane 1. FIG. 3a shows theposition of the window pane 1 relative to the seal 4 of a vehicle door(not shown) prior to installation. The installation tolerances are fixedso that the window pane 1 is spaced from or just touches the sealingsection 41 located on the B-pillar of the vehicle, so that the windowpane 1 can be fitted free of tension.

FIG. 3b shows the window pane 1 connected to the carrier 2. It can beseen that a distance ΔXx is present between the window pane 1 and thesealing section 4. When the window pane is moved upwards, as shown inFIG. 3c, it is pressed by the inclined sealing section 42 into thesealing section 41 and compensates any possible spacing which may existthere.

A different installation concept is shown in FIGS. 4a to 4 c. Here thewindow pane is installed under compression in relation to the sealingsection 41 on the B-pillar (see here FIG. 4b) so that the window pane 1when moving upwards always has contact with the sealing section 41 andglides in the direction of the sealing section 42 on the A-pillar. Thetolerances for the compensation movement of the carrier must be selectedso that the window pane glides into an end position in the direction ofthe A-pillar, showing essentially no compression of the seal portion 41at the B-pillar (FIG. 4c).

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 an alternative carrier 5 is shown which can be usedfor a cable or tubular window lifter and offers the ability to be usedfor different positions relative to the lower edge 11 of the windowpane. For clarity the yoke 53.1 at the front and the window pane 1 havebeen omitted from the view shown in FIG. 6.

The carrier 5 comprises a carrier base body 54 which is provided withyokes 53.1, 53. 2 which correspond to the retaining arms 21, 22described in FIGS. 1 and 2. The yokes 53.1, 53.2 have a guide bevel 531for guiding in a window bolt 62.

As shown in FIG. 5, connecting part 6 associated with the window pane 1is fitted between the base body 54 of the carrier and the yokes 53.1,53.2. The connecting part 6 can be seen more clearly from FIG. 6. Theconnecting part 6 comprises a base 61, which is mounted against eachside of the window pane 1. Circular round window bolts 62 are formed oneach side on the base 61. The lower part of the base 61 supports acontour 63 which has the shape of a segment of a circle.

FIG. 7 shows the geometric conditions which are to be observed whendesigning the carrier 5. The contour 63 rests in the support point A ona support surface 51 which is mounted on the base body 54 of thecarrier. The width b of the support surface 51 must be dimensioned sothat with maximum displacement of the support point A in the x-directionalways rests on the support surface 51.

It is necessary for the radius R1 of the connecting part 6 and theradius R2 of the contour 63 to have the same center M. The reason forthis is that as a result of the functioning conditions the distancebetween the upper contact bearing point A1 of the window bolt 62 on theyoke 53.1, 53.2 and the support point A on the support surface 51 mustalways be the same with each angular position between the carrier 5 andthe window pane 1.

Next to the support point A in the x-direction, clearances 52.1, 52.2are provided to ensure that with different angular positions of theconnecting part 6 relative to the support surface 51 the lower edge ofthe connecting part and/or the lower edge 11 of the window pane 1 do notsit on the base body 54 of the carrier. These clearances are produced bythe areas adjoining the support surface having a falling contour 55.1,55.2.

The connecting part 6 is mounted free of play between the yokes 53.1,53.2 of the carrier 5 and the support surface 51.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a further preferred embodiment of the connectingpart, wherein the connecting part 6′ is designed in two parts. Theconnection between the individual parts 6.1′, 6.2′ is made by positivelocking elements. In this case there are rectangular cogs 7.1, 7.2. Thecontour 63′ is shaped in the area of these rectangular cogs. The twoindividual parts 6.1′, 6.2′ are placed on each side of the window pane1. When bringing together the individual parts 6.1′, 6.2′ therectangular cogs 7.1, 7.2 ensure that they are accurately positioned.Tolerances with regard to the thickness of the window pane 1 arecompensated so that the adhesive surfaces can be contacted over theentire surface area.

FIGS. 10 to 12 show some installation positions of the carrier 5according to the present invention. For clarity the carrier 5 is onlyshown diagrammatically. As can be seen from the drawings, the carrier 5slides on the guide rails 8 which are shown in the drawings by dottedlines. FIGS. 10 and 11 show that the angle of the guide rail 8 relativeto the carrier 5 can vary depending on the installation situation,without impairing the function of the carrier 5.

In FIG. 12 a case is shown where the positions of the guide rails 8differ from each other with regard to the proposed parallel alignmentand/or with regard to the spacing from each other. It can be seen that adisplacement of the support point A on the support surface 51 ispossible by an amount a so that tolerances can be compensated in thex-direction. The extent of the possible displacement depends on thewidth of the support surface 51 and the geometry of the contour 63.

A further embodiment of the present invention is apparent from FIGS. 13to 15. Here the features of the embodiment described with respect toFIGS. 1 and 2 are combined with the features of the embodiment describedwith respect to FIGS. 5 to 7. The retaining arms 21′, 22′ are designedso that a bolt socket 26′ is located to a retaining arm 21′ as ahorizontally resilient fastening area which secures a position of thewindow bolt 62′ in the x-direction but allows a movement of the windowbolt 62′ or base body 61′ against the spring force of the bolt socket26′. The yoke 53.2 secures the position of the window bolt 62′ in thez-direction. The other retaining arm 22′ is associated with a retainingarea which is formed by the yoke 53.1′ and holds the window bolt 62′ inthe z-direction. The contour 63′ thereby rests on the support surface51′ as described with respect to the other embodiments of the presentinvention. This carrier is in a position both to allow a compensation inthe x-direction and to produce different positions of the carrierrelative to the window pane.

The present invention is not restricted to the embodiments describedabove. For example, the shape of the connecting part 6 is not bound tothe shape illustrated and described. It is also possible to mach thecontour 63 directly to the lower edge 11 of the window pane 1, to workthe contour 63 out from same or to stick on the contour 63. The windowbolt can then be mounted or likewise formed in a window pane hole in thewindow pane 1. Further, the shape of the support surface 51 need not beformed as a flat surface and can be shaped trough-like.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrier for connecting a window pane to awindow lifter, the carrier comprising first and second retaining armswhich are on opposing sides of a lower edge of the window pane, whereinat least one of the first and second retaining arms has a recess intowhich a window bolt attached to the window pane can engage in order toconnect the window pane to said carrier and wherein at least an upperpart of at least one of the first and second retaining arms isresilient, wherein the first retaining arm has a retaining areacomprising a horizontal guide for allowing the window bolt to movehorizontally with respect to said carrier and the second retaining armhas a fastening structure for holding the window bolt with respect tothe carrier, the horizontal guide and the fastening structure arealigned with each other to cooperatively engage the window bolt, whereinthe fastening structure is resiliently attached to the carrier forhorizontally urging the window bolt as the bolt moves with respect tothe carrier within the horizontal guide.
 2. The carrier according toclaim 1 wherein each of the horizontal guide and the fastening structureare symmetrical relative to a vertical longitudinal axis thereof.
 3. Thecarrier according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the fastening structure has aV-shaped guide-in area for receiving the window bolt.
 4. The carrieraccording to claim 3 further comprising a base body, wherein theV-shaped guide-in area and the base body are connected togetherresiliently through a web.
 5. The carrier according to claim 4 whereinthe web comprises a pair of arms connecting the V-shaped guide-in areato the base body, wherein at least one of the V-shaped guide-in area andthe pair of arms is resilient.
 6. The carrier according to claim 1,wherein one of the lower edge of the window pane and a lower edge of aconnecting part located below the lower edge of the window pane, has acontour whose cross-section lying parallel to a plane of the window paneis formed as a segment of a circle, and the contour is supported on asupport surface on the carrier.
 7. The carrier according to claim 6wherein the support surface is flat.
 8. The carrier according to claim 6or 7 wherein the carrier includes two surfaces adjoining the supportsurface which slope downwardly away from the support surface such thatthe lower edge of the one of the window pane and the connecting partavoids contacting the two surfaces of the carrier adjoining the supportsurface during angular deviations of the lower edge.
 9. The carrieraccording to claim 6 wherein the connecting part is a component part ofthe window bolt and can be fixed to the lower edge of the window pane.10. The carrier according to claim 9 wherein the window bolt comprisesmolded circular round portions having a center which coincides with acenter of the contour.
 11. The carrier according to claim 10 wherein thewindow bolt is mounted in a window pane hole.
 12. The carrier accordingto claim 9 wherein the retaining arms are formed as yokes on each sideof the window pane wherein the connecting part is mounted free of playbetween the support surface and the yokes.
 13. The carrier accordingclaim 9 wherein the connecting part is formed in two parts, wherein eachpart includes a positive-locking element which ensures accuratepositioning of the two parts with respect to each other when the twoparts are brought together.
 14. The carrier according to claim 13wherein each of the positive locking elements is formed as a rectangularcog.
 15. The carrier according to claim 6 wherein the contour is moldedon the lower edge of the window pane.
 16. The carrier according to claim6 wherein a radius of the segment of the circle is determined by amaximum allowable angular position of the carrier with respect to thelower edge of the one of the window pane and the connecting part.